Residential Locksmith London

Complete home locksmith services across London. Lock changes, installations, emergency lockouts, and security upgrades for houses, flats, and apartments.

Call now, 24/7 020 4524 6667 Get a free quote

Average response: 25 min
On London doorsteps: 15+ yrs
Every day of the year: 24/7
Call-out fee: £0
Vetted & insured: DBS

Home Locksmith Services

City Locksmith London covers all residential security needs: lock installation, repair, security upgrades and emergency lockouts. Available 24/7 across Greater London, with a typical 25-minute response, no call-out fee, and a fixed quote agreed before any work starts. Every lock we fit is insurance-grade, meeting BS3621 and TS007 standards where required.

Helpful guides: how burglars break into houses, best front door locks in the UK, and high-security locks explained.

Lock Changes & Upgrades

From £69

Replace old or insecure locks with modern high-security alternatives. We upgrade Yale, mortice, euro cylinder, and rim locks to meet current British Standards and insurance requirements. See our dedicated lock change service for more details.

New Lock Installation

From £89/hr

Additional locks fitted to improve your home security. Deadlocks, night latches, door chains, window locks, and smart locks installed by experienced locksmiths. Visit our door lock installation page for the full range.

Emergency Lockouts

From £79

Are you locked out of your house? We provide a 24/7 emergency lockout service across London with an average response time of 25 minutes. Non-destructive entry techniques are used wherever possible, so in most cases your door and lock stay fully usable.

Break-in Repairs

Free quote

After a burglary, we secure your home with emergency lock changes, door repairs, and security upgrades. Our break-in repair team responds quickly to make your property safe again and provides invoices for insurance claims. For longer-term peace of mind, see our advice on how to protect your house after a break-in.

Window Lock Fitting

Free quote

Secure your windows with new locks. We fit locks on sash windows, casement windows, and uPVC windows. For multipoint window and door mechanisms see our uPVC and composite door locks service. Window locking is a low-cost improvement that often satisfies insurer requirements too.

Smart Lock Installation

From £129/hr

Upgrade to keyless entry with smart locks. Control access from your phone, set temporary codes for guests, and never worry about lost keys again. Read our guide to the best smart locks for UK homes before you choose.

Prices are starting labour rates, ex VAT, and exclude parts. See the full price list for details.

Moving Into a New Home?

We offer a comprehensive new-home lock change service. Our locksmith replaces all exterior locks, checks window security, and provides a free security assessment, giving you complete peace of mind from day one.

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Insurance standards & when to change locks

When Should You Change the Locks on Your Home?

Change or re-key your locks whenever you cannot account for every key, such as after moving in, a break-in, lost keys, a separation or the start or end of a tenancy.

If you cannot account for every key to your home, your locks are no longer doing their job. These are the most common moments when a London homeowner or tenant should change or re-key their locks.

Moving into a new home

You have no way of knowing how many key copies the previous owners, estate agents, builders or cleaners still hold. Our guide to changing locks when moving house explains why it should be day-one priority.

After a break-in or attempt

A forced or tampered lock can no longer be trusted. Replacing it restores both security and insurance compliance.

Lost or stolen keys

If a key is missing, left in a public place, or stolen with anything showing your address, re-keying or a full lock change closes the risk.

Relationship breakdown or housemate moving out

After a separation, divorce or a flatmate leaving, changing the locks ensures only the current household holds a key.

Old, stiff or worn locks

A lock that sticks or no longer meets current British Standards is both a daily nuisance and a potential insurance problem. We can repair, re-key or upgrade it.

Start or end of a tenancy

Landlords and tenants both have reasons to re-key between lets. Our blog on whether a tenant can change locks in England covers the rules.

Home Lock Types and Insurance Standards Explained

The right lock depends on your door material and insurer's wording: BS3621 mortice deadlocks for wooden doors and TS007 3-star anti-snap euro cylinders for uPVC and composite doors.

Choosing the right lock is mostly about your door material and your insurer's wording. Here is what matters for a typical London home, in plain terms. For a deeper reference see our overview of home lock types and British Standards.

BS3621 five-lever mortice deadlock (wooden doors)

For timber external doors, most insurers specify a five-lever mortice deadlock that carries the BS3621 Kitemark. It deadlocks from inside and out, resists drilling and picking, and is the standard insurers refer to when they ask for "British Standard locks". Read our explainer on what a BS3621 lock is and why your insurance requires it.

TS007 3-star anti-snap euro cylinders (uPVC & composite doors)

uPVC and composite doors use a euro cylinder inside a multipoint locking system. Older cylinders are vulnerable to lock snapping, so we fit TS007 3-star cylinders (or a 1-star cylinder with a 2-star security handle) that are anti-snap, anti-drill, anti-pick and anti-bump. See our uPVC and composite door locks service for details.

Sold Secure & Secured by Design

Sold Secure (with its SS312 Diamond grade for high-security cylinders) and the police-backed Secured by Design scheme independently test products against real attack methods. These ratings are a quick way to identify a genuinely tough lock rather than relying on marketing claims.

Night latches, rim locks & multipoint systems

A Yale-type night latch or rim lock is convenient but, on its own, rarely meets insurance requirements - it is best paired with a BS3621 deadlock. uPVC and composite doors rely on a multipoint mechanism that throws several bolts when you lift the handle, which we can adjust, repair or replace.

We assess your existing locks against your specific home insurance policy wording and recommend only what you actually need. No upgrade is ever fitted without your go-ahead.

What to Expect: From Your Call to a Secured Home

1

Call or request a quote

Tell us the door type and the problem and we give an indicative, no-obligation price up front. There is no call-out fee.
2

A DBS-checked locksmith arrives

A background-vetted, fully insured locksmith comes to you, typically within 25 minutes for emergencies anywhere in Greater London.
3

Proof of residence is confirmed

Before any entry work we ask for proof you live at or own the property. It is standard good practice that protects you and your home.
4

Non-destructive entry first

We attempt non-destructive entry to avoid the cost of a replacement lock. Drilling is only ever a last resort, discussed with you first.
5

Work completed, itemised invoice provided

We confirm the final price before starting, complete the work, and give you a clear itemised invoice - useful if you are making an insurance claim.

Additional Home Locksmith Services

Beyond lock changes and lockouts, our residential locksmiths handle the smaller everyday jobs that keep a home running smoothly. See the full locksmith price list for from-prices on each.

Key cutting and key duplication for spare and replacement keys.
Lock re-keying and keyed-alike so one key works several doors.
Broken key extraction when a key snaps in the lock.
Internal door locks for bedrooms, bathrooms and home studies.
Key safe installation for carers, family or holiday-let access.
Garage, shed and outbuilding security to protect bikes and tools.

Run a business as well as a home? Our commercial locksmith services cover shops, offices and rental portfolios across London.

Insured & DBS-checked

Why Londoners trust City Locksmith

Fully insured, DBS-checked engineers with 15+ years securing London homes and businesses - no call-out fee, with the price agreed up front.

Non-destructive entry

We open without damage where possible

DBS-checked engineers

Background-vetted technicians

Fully insured

Comprehensive public liability cover

15+ years

Serving London since 2008

24/7, 365 days

Day, night, weekends, bank holidays

No call-out fee

Free quotes, price agreed up front

Every job is carried out by an insured, DBS-checked engineer, with a fixed, all-inclusive price agreed before any work begins - no call-out fee and no surprises on the doorstep.

Residential Locksmith FAQ

Find answers to common questions about our locksmith services.

Should I change my locks when I move house?

We strongly recommend it. Previous owners, tenants, estate agents, and builders may have copies of your keys. Changing the locks is the only way to ensure nobody else can access your new home. We offer a new-home lock change package at competitive rates.

What lock do I need to meet my home insurance?

Most home insurance policies require a BS3621-rated five-lever mortice deadlock on external wooden doors. For uPVC and composite doors, insurers increasingly expect a TS007 3-star euro cylinder, or a 1-star cylinder paired with a 2-star security handle, with anti-snap, anti-drill and anti-pick protection to resist lock snapping. We check your existing locks against your specific policy wording and advise on any upgrades needed for compliance. See our guide to BS3621 locks and why your insurance requires them, and read more about home lock types and British Standards.

How much does a home locksmith cost in London?

There is no call-out fee and we agree the price before any work starts. Emergency lockouts start from £79, lock change labour from £69 plus the cost of the lock, a lock re-key from £55, and fresh lock installation from £89 per hour. The final figure depends on the lock type and number of doors, so we always give a free, no-obligation quote up front. Full details are on our locksmith price list.

Is it cheaper to repair or replace a lock?

Where possible we repair or re-key first, which is usually the most economical option for a stiff, sticking or simply compromised lock. Replacement makes sense when a lock is worn beyond repair, no longer meets insurance standards, or has been forced during a break-in. We always explain both options and the cost of each before you decide.

How do I get one key that works all my doors?

This is called keyed-alike or re-keying. We can re-pin compatible cylinders so a single key operates your front, back and side doors, removing the need to carry a bunch of keys. We will confirm whether your existing locks can be keyed alike or whether matched replacements are needed.

How do you confirm I own or live at the property before opening a door?

For any lockout or entry work it is industry good practice to ask for proof of residence or ownership before we open a door. This can be a utility bill, tenancy agreement or photo ID showing the address, or confirmation from a landlord or letting agent. It protects you and your home and is a standard part of a professional, vetted service.

Will you damage my door to get in?

In the vast majority of home lockouts we use non-destructive entry techniques such as picking or bypassing the lock, leaving your door and lock fully usable. Drilling is a last resort, reserved for high-security or damaged locks where no other method works, and we will always discuss it and the replacement cost with you first.

Do you provide a home security assessment?

Yes, our locksmiths can carry out a free security assessment of your home when attending for any job. We check all entry points, assess your current locks, and recommend improvements. There is no obligation to proceed with any upgrades.

Reviews

What our customers say

Real jobs, real Londoners. A few words from people we have helped.

Used them to secure the whole house when we moved in. Changed locks, added window locks and gave us honest advice on the front door. Felt looked after rather than sold to. Will use again.

Sarah Mensah · Camden NW1

Sorted the locks on our period property without damaging the original fittings, which mattered to us. Clearly cared about doing it right. Lovely chap and a tidy worker.

Harvey · Fulham SW6

Older mum needed her locks made easier to use as her hands aren't great. They fitted a thumbturn and a simpler handle and were so patient with her. Really kind service.

Raymond · Chingford E4

Need a home locksmith? Call now

Professional residential locksmith services across London. 24/7 availability, fair prices, quality guaranteed.

Call 020 4524 6667